The PWHPA had 31 members competing for gold at the recent World Championships. Here's a look at the top 15 players not on national team rosters in the PWHPA.
A lot of talk goes into the USA and Canadian national team members in the PWHPA, but there are other talented members of the Association.
Many members of this list were recent national team members, but did not compete at the 2023 World Championships.
Here's a look at the top 20 non-national team members of the PWHPA from last season.
1. Jessie Eldridge - Finishing third in Tour scoring with 22 points in 20 games, Eldridge was a force on Team Harvey's. After helping Canada win gold at the 2022 Worlds, Eldridge was left off the national team for the 2023 edition. When you examine Eldridge's body of work from the NCAA with Colgate until now, it's impossible to overlook her skills.
2. Laura Fortino - One of the more veteran players in the PWHPA, Fortino has yet to lose a step on the blueline. Representing Canada at six World Championships and two Olympic Games, Fortino understands the game as well as anyone, and has not lost the puck moving, offensive upside she's showcased throughout her career. Second in PWHPA scoring among defenders only to teammate Lee Stecklein, Fortino is a force on the ice, and off the ice is sharing her knowledge as a coach and director of player development with the OHL's Hamilton Bulldogs.
3. Melodie Daoust - Looking at Daoust's career, one would wonder if she'll someday be in discussion for the Hockey Hall of Fame. From a team standpoint, Daoust who played with Team Scotiabank in the PWHPA, has Olympic gold, World Championship gold, U-18 World gold, and a USports national title on her resume. Individually she was the Olympic and World MVP. A career altering injury at the 2022 Olympics was a hurdle, but it wasn't a career ending incident, and Daoust proved that this season scoring eight points in 11 games in the PWHPA.
4. Victoria Bach - Few players saw the outcry for their absence at the recent World Championships like Victoria Bach. It was obvious how much she's loved by fans, and for good reason. She had a strong season with Team Scotiabank in the PWHPA, has multiple World Championship gold medals to her name, and has been with the PWHPA since day one, winning CWHL Rookie of the Year with the Markham Thunder in that league's final season. Most importantly, Bach brings more to the ice than scoring, an attribute that is hard to overlook when you watch her play.
5. Hannah Brandt - The veteran's omission from Team USA this year marked the continued ushering in of USA's next generation, but Brandt, 29, is still one of the top talent's in the sport. She was among the top players for Team Sonnet this season scoring 11 points in 20 games and has three World Championship gold, and an Olympic gold on her resume. Brandt has always played a balanced game showcasing not only her playmaking ability, but a strong shot.
6. Jill Saulnier - From the 2015 Worlds until the 2022 Olympics, Saulnier was a cornerstone of Team Canada. Scoring 10 points in 20 games in the PWHPA this year, it was the closest Saulnier has come to a full season of play since she scored more than a point per game in the CWHL's final season with the Montreal Canadiennes.
7. Maddie Rooney - Many were surprised Rooney was left off Team USA for the 2023 Worlds. At only 25, it feels like Rooney has been around forever having already played at two Olympic Games and three World Championships. Rooney can stop the puck, but USA cycled in a younger newcomer to the third string position, and handed the starting job to another PWHPA member, Aerin Frankel.
8. Sarah Potomak. - One of the best offensive players around, Potomak twice led the World U-18 tournament in scoring, being named tournament MVP, and won an NCAA national championship with Minnesota. After scoring six points in seven games at the 2022 Worlds where Canada won gold, it looked like Potomak was about to claim her spot for coming tournaments, but she was left off Canada's 2023 roster.
9. Brigette Lacquette - Although she didn't play a full season, Lacquette showed she's still a more than capable defender who takes care of her own zone first, but is also able to jumpstart offense. Always a physical presence, Lacquette has represented Canada's senior national team four times, but not since 2019.
10. Sophia Shaver - Shaver has never cracked USA's national team, but she's remained a key contributor in the PWHPA since she graduated from Wisconsin where she won a national championship as captain in her senior season. Shaver won the Secret Cup this year with Team Harvey's recording nine points in 20 games, and was one of the PWHPA's representatives at the ECHL All-Star game last year.
11. Meaghan Mikkelson
12. Kayla Vespa
13. Nicole Kosta
14. Tatum Skaggs
15. Geneviève Lacasse